High Gravity on 2-Hearted Clone

[moshmont]

Hi, I'm new at the all grain brewing & have a question.
I have a 2-hearted clone small batch (one gallon) that's been in the fermenter for 3 weeks @ 68ºF & I took a refractometer reading that shows the gravity at 1.030.
I don't know what the OG was because at the time, I had no way to read it.
Now, here's the question.
Do I dilute the beer until the target gravity is met (1.012) or do I just let it lay a bit longer as is?

 

[Yooper]

Hi, I'm new at the all grain brewing & have a question.
I have a 2-hearted clone small batch (one gallon) that's been in the fermenter for 3 weeks @ 68ºF & I took a refractometer reading that shows the gravity at 1.030.
I don't know what the OG was because at the time, I had no way to read it.
Now, here's the question.
Do I dilute the beer until the target gravity is met (1.012) or do I just let it lay a bit longer as is?

Since refractometers work by the refraction of light, they are inaccurate once alcohol is in the mix.

I'd sanitize a hydrometer test jar and take a reading. I bet it's done, and NOT at 1.030 for sure.

 

[moshmont]

Well, That's a relief.
I went ahead & racked into bottles.
Because I'm only brewing small batches, is there any conversion software to allow me to test with a refractometer?
Using a hydrometer would be wasting a lot of the small amount I have.

 

[temple240]

Well, That's a relief.
I went ahead & racked into bottles.
Because I'm only brewing small batches, is there any conversion software to allow me to test with a refractometer?
Using a hydrometer would be wasting a lot of the small amount I have.

I believe there are conversion charts but i don't think they're very accurate. You could always sanitize your hydrometer and float it in the fermenter so you don't lose any beer, just make sure to sanitize very well.

 

[moshmont]

Thanks!
Northern Brewer has one on their website. I'll have to give it a try, although I think I'll pick up a hydrometer anyway. Somehow, engineering calculations don't always work in the real world.

 

[ngunsch]

Check out this conversion calculator:

http://seanterrill.com

And he has all the math posted, too, if you really want to geek out.

 

[pabloj13]

I believe there are conversion charts but i don't think they're very accurate. You could always sanitize your hydrometer and float it in the fermenter so you don't lose any beer, just make sure to sanitize very well.

I have found mine is within a point or two after conversion. It's pretty close.